Russians ban foreign gay couple adoptions

Russian MPs have passed a bill which places tough restrictions on adoption to countries where same-sex marriages are legal, following France's vote last month allowing such unions.

The bill bans people in more than a dozen countries from adopting Russian orphans even if they are single, according to the measure that passed in a third and final reading in the Duma lower house of parliament with an overwhelming vote of 444 in favour with none against.

It must still be passed in the upper chamber, which will convene next Wednesday, and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law, but the Russian leader has already backed the bill and vowed to sign it into law.

The restriction would follow the approval last year of an adoption ban for citizens of the United States despite massive protests and petitions by thousands of people against the legislation.

The new amendments to Russia's family code say those to be banned from adoption include "persons in a marriage union between people of the same sex registered in a state where such a union is allowed, as well as citizens of such states that are not married".

Deputy prime minister in charge of social issues Olga Golodets said the bill was not a government initiative.

"The government had nothing to do with it," she said on independent channel Dozhd (Rain), adding that in her opinion the bill was not necessary as adoption issues are already sufficiently regulated.

The bill's wording implies that couples in a heterosexual marriage would still be allowed to adopt Russian children. But single people would be banned, regardless of their sexual orientation.

"Our Duma focuses on forbidding as much as possible and allowing as little as possible," said rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva.

"It has limited many rights, including rights of such disenfranchised citizens as Russian orphans. This is the great shame of our Duma."

Same-sex marriages are currently legal in 14 countries, including Canada, Belgium, Spain, Norway and Sweden, with France being the latest addition to the list.

Russia has in recent months unleashed a campaign defending "traditional values" and the Duma last week passed a controversial bill that imposes jail terms on people seen as promoting homosexual "propaganda".